The fraternal and spontaneous exchanges of Pope Francis with his fellow Jesuits

December 13, 2018 — During his visits and his apostolic trips around the world, Pope Francis always takes time to meet up with his Jesuit companions. These fraternal gatherings have often led to informal discussions that are exceedingly rich between the pope and his Jesuit companions from the four corners of the globe.

Pope Francis accepts an issue of La Civilta Cattolica from Father Antonio Spadaro, editor of the Jesuit-run magazine, during a Feb. 9 meeting with editors and staff. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano, handout) See POPE-CIVILTA-CATTOLICA Feb. 9, 2017.

The editor-in-chief of La Civiltà Cattolica, Fr. Antonio Spadaro, SJ got the idea of collecting in a book these conversations between the pope and his companions. An electronic edition of this book is available for free download on the site of La Civiltà Cattolica. Titled Fraternal and Spontaneous, this work reproduces in their entirety the conversations between the Holy Father and his Jesuit companions from Chile, Peru, Bangladesh, Ireland, Poland and the Baltics.

In the signed preface of this volume of discussions between the pope and his companions, Fr. Spadaro draws parallels between the developing thought of Jorge Bergoglio and the very Ignatian idea of pilgrimage. “The teaching [which emerges from these informal gatherings] is very rich; his words allow us to understand better certain aspects of his thinking which one is able to deduce from other aspects of his papacy. The approach of Bergoglio ought to be understood as an itinerary. One must be attentive to the paths that his thinking follows as it develops. One of the most fascinating aspects of these conversations is that he often speaks about documents that are in the process of formulation.”

Do you want to learn more about vocations to the Society of Jesus? Visit www.BeAJuesuit.org for more information.

May 23, 2019 — “The Jesuits first had to learn to say: “We are responsible,” then “We are sorry,” and finally, “We need your help.” This is how Fr. Peter Bisson, SJ, summarizes the evolving relations between the Jesuits and indigenous peoples.

May 23, 2019 — Humility, communion, and renunciation are three "essential elements" for the Church to go forward, Pope Francis sayd in his homily during Mass with representatives of Caritas Internationalis.

Father Jean-Marie Rocheleau died on May 20, 2019, in the infirmary of Richelieu. He was in his 101st year and in religious life for 84 years. He is known to host the "Radio Sacré-Cœur" programs. He dedicated himself to giving the Spiritual Exercises to religious sisters, especially in Quebec.